SOFTBALL Hamilton Hurricanes 14Us headed to USSA World Series

Monday, July 22, 2013

By RICH FISHERFor The Trentonian

The Hamilton 14U Hurricanes had a near-miss two years ago, but are making up for it this year.

In 2011, playing as a 12U travel softball team, Hamilton came within one victory of going to the Babe Ruth World Series but, in the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship team, got beat by the same team it had defeated six straight times during the season.

After the team splintered last year, it re-united this season and manager John Giordano returned with it. Since Babe Ruth does not have a 14U World Series, he entered the team into two United States Specialty Sports Association World Series qualifying tournaments this year.

A top-two finish was needed, and Hamilton won the Easton, Pa., Tournament and finished second in Ewing.

Thus, the team leaves on Wednesday for the USSA World Series in Amherst, Md. It warmed up for the 24-team event by winning the Sid Lee Tournament in South Brunswick this past weekend.

“I like where we’re at heading down there,” Giordano said. “We won in South Brunswick, that gave us our fifth championship of the summer. We played in Aunt Rosie’s ASA National Qualifier in Buffalo and got beat up a little bit. We went 2-3, but we wanted to give them the best competition we could find.

“The competition at the Sid Lee wasn’t as good as a national qualifier, but we went into it real tough and tried to get our confidence back, and we won five out of six so that worked well.”

Hamilton is 36-9 for the summer, and has gradually improved behind the pitching of Kaley Wise and Alexis Davidson and the catching of Kasey Giordano and Maguire Balke.

“The pitching and catching are coming around,” Giordano said. “Our pitchers have gotten excellent control and Kasey and Madison are doing a real good job controlling the ball behind the plate. Both of them are green, they don’t have a lot of experience.”

Rounding out the lineup are first baseman Kelly Keane, second baseman Morgan Comfort, shortstop Tyler Valenza and third baseman Giordano (when not catching). The outfield consists of Courtney Danser and Jackie Pasierb in right, Hamilton High varsity player Julia Lydon in center, and Taylor Hawkes and Tyra Torres in left.

There will be an opening ceremony at a minor league baseball stadium Wednesday night, and pool play will begin on Thursday. Giordano said he will find out his opponents at a coach’s meeting Wednesday.